Gouging ourselves

July 1, 2012

You know what really bakes my cupcakes? Every single day I talk with people around the city of Minot and they tell me the horror stories of their dilemma about contractors, roofers, installers what have you. I had an 85-year-old woman tell me a contractor from out of state was going to charge her $16,000, yes I said $16,000, to install her cabinets in her flooded home.

I asked her if she had paid the man. She told me she hadn't paid him yet, so I called an honest, stand-up guy I have known for seven years and he put her kitchen in and took out her old cabinets and installed the new ones plus her countertop for a few thousand dollars. God bless him.

I don't understand how these people can sleep at night when they are charging an arm and a leg for installation of cabinets, flooring, and roofing. They should be ashamed of themselves. They are ripping us off, so they can line their pockets and send the money home to their families in another state. I'm all for making money and giving to people and helping out, but to take advantage of people who are in their more advanced years is terrible. What the hell is wrong with you people? People are coming from all over the United States. They come here and complain about our city and state. Go home, we don't want you here anyway. You aren't doing us a favor by being here, you are causing us heartache and pain. We were fine until the people that are coming up here took advantage of us. Before anybody gets mentally irregular about my letter, let me tell you the local ones are doing the same thing. It's all about the almighty buck. They, too, should be ashamed of themselves to take advantage of people when they are down and out. I know people who are living in their cars and trucks because of no place to live, and if they do find a place, it's so expensive they can't afford it. Why increase the rent when it was $450 or $500 about three years ago? Oh, that's right, we have to line the godfathers of Minot, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I wish I could help people out by building affordable housing, but I can't. All of us aren't working in the oil fields and making stupid astronomical money. I know I have to work for a living, let some of those slumlords and the godfathers of Minot go out and get paid $12 an hour and see if they can pay their rent on just their paycheck and not dig in their savings, savings we don't have because we have to pay rent every month. Here's another thing I don't understand: How come after six months rent goes up month by month and then increases $50 every six months? Way to go, Minot!